WILD EARTH RESERVE EARTH & SKY PINOT NOIR 2023

Winery notes (2023 Vintage)
"The colour is impressive dark purple/garnet with a savoury nose that is intense and intriguing with graphite, dark cherry, blackberry, cedar, nutmeg, rosemary, and field mushroom. The palate is highly concentrated and dense with silky tannins that are lifted by impressive acidity which is a wonderful contribution from the higher elevated site. A unique expression of the Bannockburn sub-region with lovely cassis, bramble fruit, florals, and a touch of umami. This Pinot Noir has an ethereal nature, expressing intensity and poise from great sites in a stellar sub-region. It is notably fresh and bright at release, it will benefit from decanting when drinking now, and it will certainly reward those who choose to cellar it with a wonderful journey of development for at least 12+ years.

Only the very best grapes from vineyards in the well renowned Bannockburn area are selected to produce this Reserve ‘Earth and Sky’ Pinot Noir 2023. This wine is a blend of two vineyards ranging from 14 to 23 years old that border the Bannockburn Sluicings, a distinctive geographic landmark that is steeped in mining history. The grapes from these vineyards were fermented separately with a range of 20-33% whole clusters with the resulting blend having around 25% whole clusters which aids the tannin structure and aromatics of the wine. The total time on skins ranges from 21-28 days. The wine was aged for approximately 11 months in fine grain French oak barriques with 20% new and the rest ranging from 2-5 years old."

5 Stars & 97/100 Sam Kim, Wine Orbit, May 2024 (2023 Vintage)
"Gorgeously fruited and enticing, the bouquet shows dark plum, blueberry, violet, hazelnut and fragrant spice nuances, leading to a superbly weighted palate offering outstanding focus and concentration. Refined and richly textured with layers of complex flavours, combined with beautifully melded tannins, finishing impressively long and alluring. At its best: 2026 to 2037"

5 Stars Michael Cooper (2023 Vintage)
"The powerful 2023 vintage was grown at two sites in Bannockburn, matured for 11 months in French oak barriques (20 per cent new), and bottled unfined and unfiltered. Still a baby, it has deep, purple-flushed colour. Mouthfilling, with vibrant, dense, plummy, spicy flavours, it is a complex, savoury, firmly structured red (some would call it ‘brooding’), crying out for cellaring.  Best drinking 2027+"

Rated Excellent & 94/100 Cameron Douglas MS, June 2024 (2023 Vintage)
"Dark hues lead to an equally bold bouquet of smoky wood and dark berries, Doris plums and roasted black cherry scents, violets and clove. High energy on the palate with fruit and wood flavours to match the bouquet, plenty of tannin action with a finer texture then an acid line adding freshness and length. Well made with best drinking from late 2024 through 2029+"

5 Stars & 19+/20 (96) Candice Chow, Raymond Chan Wine Reviews, June 2024 (2023 Vintage)
"Deep, rich purple, lighter on the rim. The nose is softly full, with pure aromas of cherry, mulberry and plum, melded with subtle herb, floral details, and spice. Medium-bodied, aromas of black cherry, mulberry and plum are succulent and pure, entwined with red floral, thyme, nutmeg and black pepper. As it aerated, unfolded mushroom, black tea fragrant. The perfectly ripened fruit shows purity and enticing acidity; silky, filigree tannin smartly framed the attractive fruit, lending a long, alluring finish. This sleek and charming Pinot Noir is already tasty, but cellaring will be rewarded. Match with roasted pigeon and duck breast over the next 10+ years. Fruit from 2 vineyard sites in Bannockburn, fermented separately with a range of whole bunches, around 25% whole bunch in the final blend, on skins for 21-28 days, aged 11 months fine grain French oak barriques, 20% new oak, the rest 2-5 years-old. Unfined, unfiltered."

17.5/20 Joelle Thomson (2023 Vintage)
"The new 2023 Earth & Sky Pinot Noir is a richly fruity, spicy Pinot Noir from Central Otago. Here is my tasting note on this new wine. This is the top tier Pinot Noir from Wild Earth Wines in Central Otago and was made by Jen Parr from a blend of grapes grown on two vineyards in Bannockburn, both bordering the sluicing site; a landmark that is, as winemaker Jen Parr says, steeped in history. This is a structural take on the Pinot theme with firm mouthfeel coming from 20 to 33% whole bunch fermentation, which adds a depth of spicy aroma, which intermingles with ripe dark cherry and plum flavours. The wine was aged for 11 months in French oak with a modest 20% new oak and remainder being between two and five years old. The wine was bottled unfired and unfiltered, which makes it vegan friendly."